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EECA Star Ratings
All heat pumps supplied by Freeheat are registered with EECA and have a valid star rating for energy efficiency and energy performance.
Energy fuels our lifestyles, at work and at home, 24 hours a day. The time has come to make smarter energy choices - to get more value from the energy we use, waste less and start building a cleaner, more dependable energy system which makes better use of renewable energy resources. Such sustainable energy technologies and practices can simultaneously encourage economic development, look after the environment and meet our social needs.
To this end, EECA works with others to implement the New Zealand National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, with two key targets of Energy Efficient Products and Energy Rating Labels.
Energy Efficiency of products
Introduction
EECA's Products Programme is all about ensuring only efficient appliances and equipment are available for the market, and that information on product efficiency is available for households and businesses.
Energy performance information is available to consumers via Energy Rating Labels. The label allows consumers to compare the energy performance of competing models. Appliances presently required to be labelled are domestic refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, Clothes Dryers, clothes washers, single phase air conditioners.
Ensuring that only efficient products are available for sale is done via Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). In order to be sold must all be tested and shown to meet a minimum standard for energy consumption. Products covered are air conditioners, domestic refrigerators, electric water heaters, refrigerated display cabinets and distribution transformers, fluorescent lamps and ballasts for such lamps, and three phase motors.
Energy Rating Labels
Energy Rating Labels are designed to help you make an energy-wise choice when buying a new air-conditioner. Labels are 'just the ticket' to work out how much energy an appliance will consume in a year of normal service, and makes it easy to compare the energy efficiency of each model to others of the same size and class.
The Star Rating
 Each extra star means an extra 10% or more saving in running costs.
Many top models have four or more stars.
Some appliances have more than one 'band' of Stars - air conditioners have blue for cooling and red for heating performance.
If you're comparing models for energy efficiency, they need to be similar in capacity and features.
The lower the number...the more you save
 The number in the box shows how many kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity the appliance typically uses in a year. The lower the number, the less the model costs you in power bills and the more it helps the environment.
You can use the energy consumption number to estimate running costs. To estimate the annual running cost, multiply the number in the box by your electricity tariff (including GST), usually about 16 cents per kWh i.e. 640 x 0.16 = $102. To estimate the lifetime running cost, multiply the annual running costs by 10 (most whiteware has an estimated lifetime of 10 to 12 years). This is like a second price tag i.e $1020 as much as the purchase price.
Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)
Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) exist to ensure that we all buy more efficient appliances and equipment.
In New Zealand we have mandatory MEPS for fridges and freezers, electric hot water cylinders, air conditioners, three phase electric motors, refrigerated display cabinets, fluorescent lamps, ballasts for fluorescent lamps, and distribution transformers. Fridges, freezers, and domestic air conditioners (single phase) must also display an Energy Rating Label.
A MEPS means that a product must comply with specific standards for energy efficiency.
Air Conditioners
All air conditioners are required to comply with minimum energy performance standards (MEPS).
Single phase non-ducted air conditioners must also display energy rating labels when displayed for sale. However three phase air conditioners and ducted single phase units do not have to be labeled.
Importers and manufacturers must ensure that air conditioners comply with MEPS, are registered, and supply energy rating labels with products (when applicable). Responsibility for display of energy rating labels rests with anyone who sells air conditioners to end users.
Registration
All models must be registered; this involves a submission of performance testing results and supplier's details, usually via the web site. New Zealand operates a joint energy efficiency appliance and equipment programme with Australia.
Standards
The standards document the testing and registration requirements for each product. Put simply, there is a minimum performance level each product must meet, and products with better energy efficiency receive a higher star rating.
For example the minimum energy efficiency ratio for reverse cycle air conditioners is 2.3 and this product would have a 2 star label.
Standards are available from Standards New Zealand at www.standards.co.nz
Exemptions
There are no exemptions for MEPS or registration of air conditioners.
Energy Rating Label
The label shows how the appliance measures up to a performance standard. The label provides information on energy use - both cooling (in blue) and heating (in red) - and the capacity of the appliance.
The ratio of the rating and energy consumption figures is a measure of the appliance's efficiency, known as the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) for cooling, or Coefficient of Performance (CoP) for heating. From these ratios a Star Rating is allocated to the appliance.
Who has to comply?
The Regulations require all single phase non ducted air conditioners to display their labels. These air conditioners can either be single cycle (for cooling) or reverse cycle (for cooling or heating, commonly known as heat pumps).
Three phase and single phase ducted air conditioners do not have to be labeled.
Contact FreeHeat now to learn about the range of energy efficient heat pump systems available.
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